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SEG3120 Analysis and Design for User SEG3120 Analysis and Design for User InterfacesInterfaces

FlashFlash

Anis Zarrad

Parallel Simulations and Distributed Systems

(PARADISE) Research Laboratory

SITE, University of Ottawa

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Outline Outline

• What is a flash?

• Macromedia Flash MX 2004

• Flash concepts

• Flash Demos

• Conclusion

• Additional help

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What is a flashWhat is a flash

• Macromedia Flash is a multimedia graphics program specially for use on the Web

• Flash enables you to create interactive "movies" on the Web

• Flash uses vector graphics, which means that the graphics can be scaled to any size without losing clarity/quality

• Flash does not require programming skills and is easy to learn

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The Software Engineering of The Software Engineering of FlashFlash

In terms of interactivity: HTML DHTML Flash

• Specify exact positioning of the various page elements statically or dynamically.

• Progressive streaming by default (Flash MX as well as Flash Communication Server MX)

• Supports vector graphics• Open source file format specs (not an open

source technology, only the file format specs are)

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Flash ConceptsFlash Concepts

• Timeline • Organize and control a flash movie content over time in

layers and frames

• Key frames• A frame in which a change in an animation is defined

• Tweening– In between in-tween tweening– Motion vs. Shape

• ActionScript• Symbols (graphic, movie clip, button)• Path animation

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Need to knowNeed to know

• Basic knowledge of HTML

• Basic knowledge of java script

• Knowledge of graphics programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator will make creating graphics in flash much easier

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Is it an industry leader?Is it an industry leader?

• Macromedia Flash player numbers indicate that it is used by more then 386 million people.

• It is included in all the most popular browsers, so anyone with a new version of Netscape or Internet Explorer is guaranteed to be able to view Flash movies on the Web

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Flash vs. Animated Images and Flash vs. Animated Images and Java AppletsJava Applets

• Animated images and Java applets are often used to create dynamic effects on Web pages.

• The advantages of Flash are:• Flash loads much faster than animated images • Flash allows interactivity, animated images do

not • Flash does not require programming skills, java

applets do

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Flash vs. Animated Images and Flash vs. Animated Images and Java AppletsJava Applets

• Websites made up of music, videos, and custom, graphic intensive interfaces are all possible with Macromedia Flash.

• Quick loading, especially compared to traditional methods like GIF animations

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Flash screen shotFlash screen shotTool Box

menu Timeline frames

Stage

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Demos Demos

• Motion Tweening• Simple animation• Draw object motion guide• Falling text• How to change the color of an object.

• Shape tweening• Morphing a shape

• Create your own Button

• Flash Sound

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ConclusionConclusion

• Flash is easer to create them java applet

• Some applets are programmed so they eventually take up all resources on the computer, and this results in "freezing" the browser.

• There are things that you can program in java that just can't be done with Flash.

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Additional HelpAdditional Help

• With Shape Tweening animation change a circle to a square using 1- 40 frames.

• Use a modify transform to flip a horizontal text

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ReferencesReferences

• http://www.w3schools.com/flash/

• Macromedia Flash web site